Security council:

The United Nations Security Council UNSC bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

UNSC is designed to be the UN’s only action agency and is often described as the enforcement wing of the UN.

The UNSC comprises of five permanent members namely China, France, Russia, UK and USA and 10 other non-permanent members, elected for a term of 2 yaers by a two-third majority of the General assembly. Five non-permanent retire after every year. Retiring members cannot be re-elected immediately.

The permanent members in UNSC have the power to VETO any move. If a permanent member abstains, it is not considered as a VETO.

The presidency of the security council is held in turn by the members of the security council in the english alphabetical order of their names. Each president holds office for one calender month.

Decision on procedural as well as substantive matters are taken by an affirmative vote of 9 members. On substantive matters involving action by member nations, all permanent members must vote in the affirmative. A single VETO can prevent the proposals from being advanced.

Economic and social council:

UN Economic and social council (ECOSOC) objective is to promote social progress and better standards of life.

ECOSOC comprises 54 members, 18 (one-third) of members are elected every year by the general assembly of UN, to serve for three years. The retiring members as well as the president are eligible for immediate re-elections.

The functions of EOSOC are performed by nine functional commissions, five regional commissions and a number of standing committees.

Trusteeship council:

The UN trusteeship council aims at helping countries under foreign rule to attain independence.

There were eleven such counties that had come under this system after the second world war (1939-1945). Most of the countries have attained independence by now. Palau was the last country to get freedom in 1994.